Egg carton



Oct. 13, 1953 P lK, SCH|| |NG 2,655,305

EGG CARTON Filed 00t- 30, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet l n l 519 c2 44 f1 f@ 2M 3?/51 .6 f? ff ,4.

@iwi-d 2?/ A M9 f6 A lv 25 '0637 01W-F70 35 .@sqiwa 57 ocr. 13, 1953 p, K SCHLUNG 2,655,305

EGG CARTON Filed Oct. 50, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @2M gn; MEM@ Patented Oct. 13, 1953 EGG CARTON Paul K. Schilling, Waterville, Maine, assignor, by

mesne assignments, to General Package Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application October 30, 1947, Serial No. 783,021

6 Claims. l

My invention relates to an improvement in egg cartons wherein it is desired to provide a means of packing egg cartons in a minimum of space.

Eggs are most commonly shipped in egg car,- tons which often contain thirty dozen eggs. These cartons are most commonly formed with two egg receiving compartments, each of which is designed to contain ve layers of three dozen eggs. The eggs are usually separated by means of partition forming fillers, While ats of suitable design are interposed between the various layers. The eggs thus packaged are usually placed in suitable containers by the merchants receiving the eggs and are sold in these cartons. This arrangement necessitates handling of the eggs by the merchant, thus requiring time and labor.

More recently it has been proposed that the egg producer package the eggs directly in cartons which may be shipped to the merchant in ccndition for immediate sale. However, in order to properly protect the eggs during shipment the cartons ordinarily employed have required more space than is usually required in Vegg cases of conventional size. As a result special larger cases were required, resulting in additional costs and lost space in shipment. The egg cases of suiciently large size to contain the individual cartons of eggs were sufficiently larger to result in a considerable added expense in carload shipments.

It is the object of the present invention to produce a carton capable of holding a dozen eggs or the like and in so designing the cartons that they do not require more space than the conventional layers of eggs n an egg case. As a result the egg cases in common use at the present time may be used to contain thirty dozen eggs packaged in individual cartons, each holding a dozen eggs.

A feature of the present inventionv lies in the provision of cartons capable of protecting the eggs in shipment and having a flange extending thereabout. This ange is higher onone side of the package than it is on the other side thereof so that the iiange on one package may overlap the flap of the nextv adjacent package. As a result the distance between vadjacent packages is divided in half so that the cartons may be packed in conventional egg cases.

A feature of the present invention lies in the provision of an egg carton having top and., bottom portions which are provided with a peripheral flange extending thereabout.y This peripheral ange is of substantial thickness so` as to protect the contained eggs. The flange on one side of each carton is lower than the ange on the other side of the carton. As a result adiacent cartons may be rested upon a flat plane with the ilanges of adjacent cartons in overlap.-

sides in providing egg cartons having a ilangeextending thereabout and in providing a means of overlapping the anges of adjacent cartons while the bases of the cartons remain on a flat plane. By this construction adjacent cartons are held in spaced relation by the combined action of two flanges, each of which is connected to one of the cartons and extends into contacting relation with the wall of the other cartons. Thus thecartons are more efficiently held in placed relationship than would be the case if the ilanges extended into abutting relationship.

These and other objects and novel features of my invention will be more clearly and fully' set forth in the following specication` and claims. f

In'the drawings forming a part of my specifi cation:

Figure 1 is atop plan view of my carton inV open position showing the construction thereof. Figure 2 is an end elevation view of the carton in open position. Figure 3 is an end elevation view of the carton in closed position.

v Figure 4. is an end elevation viewof a pluralityof similar cartons arranged in adjacent relationship. f Y

Figure 5 is an end elevational View of armodified form of carton, the View showing several cartons in adjacent relationship. f

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing another modied form of carton flange construction;

The carton A illustrated in Figures 1 through 4 of the drawings preferably comprises three in-V dividual sections hingedly connected together.

The intermediate section I 0 forms a compart-v mented'tray for receiving a dozen eggs. ,A vcomplementary egg enclosing section Il is hingedly connected to the section I0 along a longitudinal Vedge I2.v A cover section I3 isrhingedly connected to the opposite longitudinal edge ofthe section `Il! along ahingepline I4. The eggs-are preferably placed in the section I0, the section II is folded to overlie the section I0, and the section I3 is folded to overlie the section II as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings.

The sections I and I I are shown in the drawings as being of similar form, although they need not necessarily be identical in size or shape. The section I0 includes a series of egg receiving pockets I5 of suitable size and shape. The pockets I5 are spaced by inwardly extending integral projections I6 on the: marginal edges of the section and by separating posts I1 between adjacent rows of pockets. The specific shape and construction of the pockets I5 and of the section I0 is not of utmost importance except that the section is tray shaped in general, with downwardly sloping longitudinal side walls I8 and similarly sloping end walls I9 which are provided with integral projections IB to divide the section into egg receiving recesses capable of holding eggs in spaced relation. The posts I1 are integral with the base of the tray and are connected together by partition walls 20. Similar partition walls 2I connect the various posts I1 to adjacent projections I6 to help form a division between the various pockets. The traylike section is provided with an encircling flange 22 which includes end flange portions 23 and longitudinal flange portions 24 and 25. The hinge line I4 extends along the flange portion 24. while the hinge line I2 extends along the flange portion 25.

The top enclosing section II is shown similar to the section I0. The section II includes egg receiving pockets 26 which are complementary to the pockets I5 and are directly opposed to the pockets I5 when the carton is closed. The pockets 26 are formed by inwardly extending projections '21 on the side walls 29 and end walls 30. Posts 3l are provided between the rows of pockets 26, these posts 3l abutting the posts I1 of the section I0 in closed position of the carton. Partition walls 32 connect the various posts and similar partition Walls 33 connect the posts 3l to the adjacent projections 21. The eggs in the various pockets are held from lateral movement by the posts, projections and connecting partition walls.

The side and end walls 29 and 30 slope inwardly and a marginal flange encircles the periphery of these walls. The marginal flange 34 includes longitudinal flange portions 35 and 3B and end flange portions 31.

The top or cover section I3 comprises a tray shaped body having sloping longitudinal walls 39 and similarly sloping end walls 40. A top cover panel 4I is supported by the walls 3S and 40 to form a top closure for the carton on which suitable indicia may be printed if desired. A flange 42 peripherally encircles the walls 39 and 4U, The flange 42 includes longitudinal flange portions 43 and 44 and end flange portions 45.

As best illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings the end flange portions v23 of the middle section flange 22 are off-set intermediate the longitudinal edges of the section at a point 46 spaced from the longitudinal center of the section. As a result the flange portion 24 is at a lower level than the longitudinal flange portion and the portion of the end flanges 23 on one side of'the offset 46 are on a lower level than the end flange portions on the other side of the off-set 46. Thus the flange 22 is higher on one longitudinal edge than alongY the opposite longitudinal edge for a purpose'which will be later described in detail.

The end flange portions 3l of the flange 34 are also arranged on two different levels connected by an off-set 41. The portion of the end flanges on one side of the off-set 41 are lower than the end flange portions on the other side of the olf-set. Thus the top of this section is arranged on two spaced planes so that the longitudinal flange 35 is lower than the longitudinal flange 36.

It will be noted from Figure 2 of the drawings that the longitudinal flange 25 of the section Il] is on a higher level than the adjacent longitudinal flange portion 35 of section II so that the connecting hinge I2 is vertically off-set as illustrated.

The flange 42 of the cover section I3 is arranged on two separate planes as also illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. The end flange portions 45 on one side of the oil-sets 49 are at a lower level than the end flange portions on the other side of the off-sets 49. As a result the longitudinal flange portion 44 is above the level of the longitudinal flange portion 43 on the opposite edge of the section. It will thus be noted that the longitudinal flange 44 is accordingly above the level of the flange portion 24 to which it is hinged so that the hinge I4 is vertically off-set.

When the carton is closed it will be noted that the section II is pivoted onto the section It and the section I3 is pivoted over the section I I. The off-sets 41 and 49 are so arranged as to coincide with one another. However, these off-sets 41 and 49 are on one side of the center line of the sections, while the off-set 46 is on the opposite side of the center lines thereof. As a result an opening 50 may be provided between the end flange portions 23 and 31. These openings 58 may serve as ventilation openings if it is so desired.

In Figure 4 of the drawings I disclose three cartons A arranged in side by side relationship. It will be noted that the superimposed flanges on one longitudinal side of each carton are above the level of the flange portions on the opposite sides of the cartons so that the llanges of adjacent cartons overlap. This arrangement is desirable for several reasons. In the first place the spacing between the longitudinal centers of adjacent cartons may be substantially decreased by the overlapping construction. Secondly it will be noted that each flange abuts against a side wall of the adjacent carton rather than against the flange edge thereof. If the flanges on both sides of the carton were on a common horizontal plane, the edges of the flanges would abut. By overlapping the flanges as disclosed in Figure 4 of the drawings each of the overlapping flanges abuts against the wall of the adjacent carton forming a double thickness spacer between these cartons. The cartons are accordingly more readily held in place.

In Figure 5 of the drawings I disclose cartons B in side by side relationship with the flanges of adjacent cartons arranged in overlapping relationship. The cartons B are similar to the cartons A previously described, with the exception of the fact that the off-Set portions in the end flange portions of the various sections of each carton are arranged in registry. The composite flanges 5I on one side of each carton in folded condition are below the level of the composite flanges 52 on the opposite longitudinal side of each carton and the olf-sets 53 connecting the flange portions 5l and 52 are centrally lo cated between the longitudinal carton edges. As a result the flanges of the three sections are in continuous contact throughout the periphery of the sections and the Ventilating openings 50' are eliminated.

In Figure 6 of the drawings I disclose a series of cartons C which are also similar in general form to the cartons A and B previously described. However, the cartons Cv are provided with flanges which gradually incline from one longitudinal edge of each section to the other longitudinal edge thereof. As a result the flanges on one side of the carton are at a higher level than the flanges at the opposite side thereof so that the flanges of adjacent cartons may overlap.

It will be noted that the various sections of the carton C are so arranged that the composite flanges 54 along one longitudinal edge 55 of each carton are below the level of the composite flange structure on the opposite longitudinal edge 56 of each carton. In this structure as in the cartons B the flanges encircling all of the sections are in continuous contact throughout the entire periphery of the sections.

I have described my carton structure as useful on cartons having three foldably connected sections. While I prefer to employ a carton of this type, it is also possible to apply my construction to cartons having two sections hingedly connected together. For example the egg carton could comprise merely the sections I0 and I I hingedly connected together with the cover section I3 omitted. Such a carton is not possessed of all of the advantages of the specific carton described but may be employed. Similarly the carton could be formed of two pivotally connected sections such as the sections I0 and I3 with the section Il omitted. Such a carton does not Vprovide the protection for the eggs of the three section carton described, but could be employed if desired.

The posts I'I and the projections I6 have been shown in the drawings as being generally octagonal in shape at the top and round in shape at the bottom. Obviously these posts could be octagonal in general both at the top and bottom or could be round both at their upper and lower extremities.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my egg carton, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiments thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A carton for fragile articles including two elongated sections, said sections comprising tray shaped bodies having flanged encircling edges, the longitudinal edge of one section being connected hingedly to the longitudinal edge of the other section, the end portions of said flanged edges being off-set intermediate said longitudinal edges so that the anged longitudinal edge on one side of each section is above the level of the anged longitudinal edge on the other side of each section.

2. A carton for fragile articles including two elongated sections, said sections comprising tray shaped bodies having flanged encircling edges, the longitudinal edge of one section being connected hingedly to the longitudinal edge of the other section, the end portions of said flanged edges being off-set intermediate said longitudinal edge so that the flanged longitudinal edge on one side of each section is above the level of the flanged longitudinal edge on the other side of each section, the off-set portions of the two sections being spaced When said sections are folded into superimposed relation to provide an air space between said flanged edges at each end of said sections.

3. A carton for fragile articles including two elongated sections, said sections comprising tray shaped bodies having fianged encircling edges, the longitudinal edge of one section being connected hingedly to the longitudinal edge of the other section, the end portions of said flanged edges being oif-set intermediate said longitudinal edges so that the flanged longitudinal edge on one side of each section is above the level of the flanged longitudinal edge on the other side of each section, said olf-set portions being in contacting relation when said sections are folded into superimposed relation.

4. A carton in accordance with claim 1, in which there is an additional cover section hingedly connected to the second longitudinal edge of said other section, which cover section has end portions between longitudinal edges thereof provided with offset edges adapted to nest with the offsets of a section therebeneath when the carton is closed.

5. A carton in accordance with claim 4, in which the offsets of the end portions of the anged edges of the respective tray-shaped body sections are spaced laterally from one another in the horizontal direction of those portions, whereby to define end openings therebetween.

6. A carton in accordance with claim 1, in which the offsets of the end -portions of the flanged edges of the respective tray-shaped body sections are spaced laterally from one another in the horizontal direction of those portions, whereby to define end openings therebetween.

PAUL K. SCHILLING.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,212,864 Will Jan. 16, 1917 1,708,456 Tuniek Apr. 9, 1929 1,748,911 Chaplin Feb. 25, 1930 1,846,561 Koppelman Feb. 23, 1932 1,975,128 Sherman Oct. A2, 1934 2,285,129 Schwartzberg June 2, 1942 

